The public, fast-food chain operators, and environmental groups join hands to clean up beaches together

In response to the United Nations' "World Oceans Day" action focus of "preventing plastic pollution of the oceans," and to promote the policy effective July 1, 2019 (the 108th year of the Republic of China) that restricted-use targets may not provide single-use plastic straws for dine-in food and beverage service, the Environmental Protection Administration selected Dingliao Beach in Linkou District, New Taipei City on June 2, 2019 (the 108th year of the Republic of China) to hold a beach cleanup. This event was attended by about 248 people in total, including members of the public who registered through the Environmental Protection Administration's "Nationwide Group Beach Adoption and Cleanup" Facebook fan page, employees of the fast-food chains McDonald's and Mos Burger, members of the environmental group Haiyong Studio, and personnel from the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Department, who together witnessed the pollution situation of plastic waste (including straws) spread across the coastal environment, and collectively cleaned up about 1,134 kg of general waste and 51 kg of recyclables.

The Environmental Protection Administration stated that reducing marine debris is an issue of global concern, and that more and more people are spontaneously participating in beach cleanup activities, taking action themselves and responding to waste reduction at the source. This year during the environmental season, the Environmental Protection Administration held a beach cleanup at Linkou Dingliao Beach, also aiming for a plastic-free beach cleanup, simplifying the opening ceremony, reducing the use of disposable items, implementing the concept of waste reduction, and encouraging the public to take beach cleanup shuttle buses in response to energy conservation and carbon reduction.

The Environmental Protection Administration once again calls on the public to start reducing waste from themselves, and to visit the "Coastal Beach Adoption System" (https://ecolife2.epa.gov.tw/coastal/) established by the Environmental Protection Administration to apply for coastal adoption and beach cleanup activities, and contribute to the cleaning and maintenance of the coast.